India, Bangladesh Seek to Mend Ties as Envoy Meets PM Rahman
Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi met Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday, August 10, 2026, in Dhaka. The meeting took place amid diplomatic tension caused by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s virtual press conference from New Delhi on August 5, in which she criticised the current Bangladeshi government.
Diplomatic sources in New Delhi described the meeting as a positive step, especially as a high-level Indian security delegation was also visiting Dhaka at the same time. The sources said the talks were cordial. Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman and Foreign Affairs Adviser to the PM Humayun Kobir attended on the Bangladeshi side, while High Commissioner Trivedi was accompanied by Deputy Chief of Mission Pawan Badhe.
The meeting comes after a period of strain in bilateral ties. The Bangladesh government had previously expressed outrage over comments made by Ms. Hasina during her press conference at the Foreign Correspondent Club in New Delhi, which was also attended by her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy. Before that event, Mr. Kobir had met High Commissioner Trivedi and conveyed concerns that Ms. Hasina’s political activities from Indian soil could harm the positive momentum in relations.
Following the press conference, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement regretting that, despite concerns shared with India beforehand, the event was allowed to take place. In response, India’s Ministry of External Affairs clarified on August 7 that it did not endorse any comments made against Prime Minister Rahman’s government at the event. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “The Government had no role in what was an event by a private media entity. The Government does not endorse anything said at the forum, especially against the duly constituted government of Bangladesh.”
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman assumed office after his Bangladesh Nationalist Party won a decisive victory in the February 12, 2026 election — the first national election since Ms. Hasina’s Awami League government was removed during the 2024 monsoon uprising. Ms. Hasina fled to India on August 5, 2024, and has remained in New Delhi since then.
India has taken a cautious approach toward Prime Minister Rahman’s government. Several outreach attempts have been made since he came to power, including the attendance of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla at his swearing-in ceremony on February 17. India has also extended invitations for a bilateral meeting and for the BRICS summit in September, which Mr. Rahman is expected to attend.
Multiple bilateral projects have been delayed due to the 15-month interim government led by student protesters who came to power after the fall of the Awami League government. Among the key issues requiring urgent attention is the renewal of the Ganga Waters Treaty of 1996, which expires on December 31, 2026. The treaty needs expert-level discussions before renewal. It is understood that the upcoming BRICS summit in September could provide an opportunity for both sides to resume dialogue on these critical matters.
